I think people vastly overestimate how hard it is to get a tool right even in the age of AI. Yes, it's very easy to get a throwaway tool done in a session. For anything above trivial complexity (like a coding harness) you will immediately notice warts with it.
It's true: with proper planning, thought, and focus, you might be able to generate enough code in one weekend to create a tool that is at parity with something like Pi - but chances are the amount of focus, planning, and thought is going to be greater than one weekend worth. And I don't know about you - but I don't really want to spend my weekend building a coding harness, I have other ideas and projects I'd rather execute.
It's true: with proper planning, thought, and focus, you might be able to generate enough code in one weekend to create a tool that is at parity with something like Pi - but chances are the amount of focus, planning, and thought is going to be greater than one weekend worth. And I don't know about you - but I don't really want to spend my weekend building a coding harness, I have other ideas and projects I'd rather execute.